Adjustable channel-girth construction



Sept. 14 1926.

W. A. TROUT ADJUSTABLE CHANNEL GLRTH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 13, 1925 HHH EE/ I m K I I at Z R A 7 MM A 4 m 4IH|II Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATE s PATENT OFF-ICE.

WILLIAM A. TROUT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO EMSCO DERRICK 8t EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA;

ADJUSTABLE O HANNEL-GIRTH CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 13, 1925.

This invention has to do with steel derricks of the type employed in the oil producing industry. derrick is placed over a well, which derrick has machinery for handling various casings and tools for the well. The machinery of the derrick includes a draw-works which is situated to one side of the derrick floor, generally between legs of the derrick such draw- 10 works being for the purpose of handling the cable of the crown block of the derrick. These draw-works are attached at their upper ends to a channel girth which consists of a horizontally extending bar which is secured at each end to legs of thederrick. These channel girths are generally provided so as to .be vertically adjustable for reasons such as to accommodate any variation in draw-work constructions. At the present time, the channel girths are made adjustable by providing a cylindrical opening in either the attachment plates by which the girth is attached to. the legs of the derrick or in the ends of the'channel girths, and vertical slots are provided in either of these members. Bolts extend through these cylindrical openings and slots for securing the channel girth 'in place. Although this arrangement renders the channel girth adjustable into different positions there is a marked tendency for the channel girth to slip from position. This is due to the fact that the friction created by the tightness of the boltis' solely relied upon to secure the channel girth in place, as there isno friction between the bolt and the side of the slot owing to the fact that the slot is in a vertical plane. It is an object of my invention to provide 40 a novel means for securing a channel girth tothe legs of a derrick, which will permit vertical adjustmentand will have considerable friction between the walls of the openings and the securing bolt, besides having friction, due tothe tightness of the bolt.

Other objects and the salient advantages of this invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Refefring to' the drawing which is solely for illustrative purposes.

Fig.. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of my invention. I

Fig; 2 is an enlarged view showing achan nel girth and attachment plate prepared in the manner of my invention, these parts be- In this industry, a steel Serial N 0. 36,843.

ing separated to clearly show the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the end of the channel girth secured in place. i Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig; 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the slot arrangement of the attachment means of my invention.

In Fig. 1, I show a derrick having angle legs 11 which extend upwardly from a floor 12. Extending between these adjacent legs 11 is a channel girth 14. In accordance with customany practice, upper ends of upright members 1:) are secured to the girth 14 by suitable bolts, 16, these upright members 15 being a portion ofa draw-works 17, which may be of any standard construction.

The channel girth 14 is attached to the legs 11 by attachment or gusset plates 19. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the ends of the channel girth 14 are provided with a plurality of diagonall extending slots 20. These slots 20 are preferably made parallel to each other and at an angle of 45 with a vertical plane. .The gusset plates. 19 are secured to the legs 11 by bolts 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In the gusset plate 19, near the inner edges thereof, are diagonally extending slots 23, which are parallel in extension and which extend preferably at anglesof 45 with a vertical plane. The axes of slots 20 and 23, however, lie in planes which extend at right angles to each other. Extending through the pairs of slots 20 and 23 are bolts 30 which may havesuitable washers 31.

It is an important object of this invention to providea means for adjustably securing a channel girth in place, but still retain considerable friction between the walls of the openings and thesecurin bolts. The manner in which I accomp ish this object is clearly shown in'Fig. -When the channel 100 girth 14 is raised or lowered, respectively, to the attachmentplates 19, the bolts 30 move inwardly or outwardly in the slots 20 and 23. For example, when the channel girth 14 is moved upwardly, the bolts 30 move as indicated by the broken lines 33 in Fig. 5. The wallsof the slots 20 extend at right angles to those of slots 23, and the wallsof both extend at angles of 45 with 'a vertical plane. The slots 20 21.5123, when 1 superimposed, form the diagonals of a square as shown in Fig. 5; A'tendency for the channel, girth 14; to lower is resisted by engagement of the dia on'al walls of the slots 20.v and 23 with the olts 30. 7 From the foregoing description, it is evident that by providing slots which extend at right angles to each other and atiangles with a vertical line, Lamvable to 'adj-nstably' attach the channel girth 14 to the iegs'll and still retain considerable friction between the bolt and the walls of the slots.

This is a'desirable feature because it reduces the slipping possibilities of the channel girth, which in previous arrangements is very great. It should be understood that the channel girth 14 is called upon to carry considerable strain and is subjected to much vibrationdu'ring the use of the draw-works 17, and for this reason it is highly desirable to rigidly, but adjustably, secure this channel girth 14 in placeijijig I claim as my invention A 1. In a steel derrick, the -{j bination of:

vertically extending members having slots which extendat angles to a vertical plane; a horizontally extending member having slots which extend at angles'with said first mentioned slots; 1 and bolts extending through said first and said second mentioned slots for securing said vertically and said horizontally extending members toether, said slots being arrangedto permit bodily adjustment of said horizontal mem- 2. In a steel derrick, the combination of: vertically extending members having slots which extend diagonally; a horizontally extending member having slots which extend at, angles with. said first mentioned slots; and bolts extending through said first and said second mentioned slots for securing said vertically and said horizontally extending members together, said slots being arranged to permitbodily adjustment of said horizontal member.

3.; In a steel derrick, the combination of: vertically extending members having slots which extend at forty-five degree angles witha vertical plane; a horizontally extending member having slots which extend at angles with said first mentioned slots; and belts extending through said firstand said second mentioned slots for securing said vertically and said horizontally extending members together, said slots being arranged to permit bodily adjustment of said horizontal member.

4. In a steel derrick, the combination of: vertically extending members having slots which extend dia onally; a horizontally extendin member having slots which extend at rig 1t angles with said first mentioned slots; and bolts extending through said first and said second mentioned slots for securing saidvertically and said horizontally extending members together.

angles of forty-five degrees with a vertical plane; a substantially horizontally extending'channel girth, said channel girth having slots which extend at right angles to said first'mentioned slots; and bolts extending throu h said first and said second mentione slots for securing said channel girth to said legs.

7. In a steelderrick, the combination of: substantially vertically extending derrick legs; gusset plates secured to said legs, said gusset plates having slots extending at angles of forty-five degrees with a vertical plane; a substantially horizontally extend-' lng channel girth, said channel girth havin slots which extend at right angles to said first mentioned slots; and bolts extending through said first and said second mentioned slots for adjustably securing said channel girth to said legs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles. California, this 3rd day of June, 1925,

WnmiAM A. TROUT. 

